Compare towns
South Windham vs Wells vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Windham has the highest household income ($133k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | South Windham | Wells | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,212Lowest |
11,713Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 36.5±13.2Lowest 19% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 3.6%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| South Windham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,223±$21kHighest 78% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| South Windham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,300±$81k 6% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,824±$2kHighest 60% above ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| South Windham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,941 3% below ME |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
28 minLowest 12% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.5%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| South Windham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.